Botafogo Clinches Spot in 2026 Copa Libertadores with Thrilling Win over Grêmio
Botafogo's 3-2 victory over Grêmio secures their place in the 2026 Copa Libertadores, reinforcing their top-five league standing.
- • Botafogo defeated Grêmio 3-2 on November 22, 2025, at Estádio Nilton Santos.
- • Goals from Cuiabano and Artur gave Botafogo an early 2-0 lead.
- • Grêmio responded with two goals but could not equalize.
- • Botafogo's win secured fifth place in the league with 58 points, guaranteeing qualification for the 2026 Copa Libertadores.
Key details
On November 22, 2025, Botafogo secured qualification for the 2026 Copa Libertadores by defeating Grêmio 3-2 in an intense match at Estádio Nilton Santos. Botafogo opened the scoring early, with Cuiabano netting a goal in the 14th minute, and Artur quickly doubled the lead. Despite Grêmio's second-half resurgence, featuring goals from André and Carlos Vinícius that brought them close, Botafogo held on to their advantage to secure the victory.
This win elevated Botafogo to fifth place in the Campeonato Brasileiro standings with 58 points, ensuring their position in the coveted G5 region and solidifying their Copa Libertadores berth. Prior to this match, Botafogo had also beaten Sport 3-2, with Kadir scoring twice, further cementing their spot in the top tier of the league.
The match was crucial for Botafogo’s campaign and showcased their resilience against a determined Grêmio side, which remained in 12th place with 43 points after the defeat. With this result, Botafogo not only claims an important continental tournament spot but also demonstrates their growing competitiveness in Brazilian football.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.